Clutch device for starting mechanisms



Jan. 19, 1937. R; M. NARDQNE CLUTCH DEVICE FOR STARTING MECHANISMS Original Filed May 8, 1931 INVENTOR Pomeo MIVa rdone. BY 6M 1 w www g M n ML ml ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES CLUTCH DEVICE FOR STARTING 1 MEoHANisMs Romeo M. Nardone, East Orange, N. J., assignor to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 8, 1931, Serial No. 536,031 Renewed September 20, 1935 1 Claim.

This invention relates to starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to engine starters of the inertia type.

An object of the present invention is to provide novel means for operatively connecting a starter of the foregoing type to the engine, whereby energy which has` been stored in the inertia member of the starter is rendered effective to start the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an inertia starter embodying manually operable means for energizing the inertia element, novel engine-engaging means so disposed and inter-related with said energizing means as-to permit operation of both through the same agency.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a unitary structure, inter-related means for selectively cranking the engine by transmitting thereto energy previously stored in an inertia element of said structure, or by direct manualoperation of an engine-engaging member.

A further object is to provide an engine starter of the foregoing type embodying a novel construction possessing practical merit and insuring efciency and reliability in operation.

These and other objects will become apparent upon inspection of the following specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein is illustrated the preferred emebodiment of the invention. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is intended merely to serve as an illustration of one mode of embodying theinvention in a practical form and is not designed as a definition of the limitsof the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claim.

In the drawing,

Fig, 1 is a central vertical section through an embodiment of the invention; and F1Fig. 2 is a detail view taken along line 2-2 of In the embodiment shown it is possible to crank the engine either by direct cranking action orby storage of energy in an inertia member, as in the lembodiment previously described, and furthermore such alternative cranking means may -be concentrated in a single cranking member. Such cranking means is shown as disposed in a housing having two sections |20 and |2|, section |20 being adapted to be secured to the extension 1 of the engine crankcase.

The sections |20 and |2| preferably extend to enclose an inertia member and driving connections shown only partially. l

The novel combined direct and indirect cranking means further comprises the provision of a centrally disposed actuated shaft |28 having a pin |29 or other means at its outer end for attachment of any desired driving means, the shaft being suitably journaled in a bearing member |30 threaded to the outer end of the centrally disposed hub |3|. The inner end of the shaft is counterbored to provide a socket |32 for the reception of the end of shaft |33, a bayonet slot and pin connection between the two shafts being indicated at |34, a compression spring |35, abutting at one end the shoulder |36 of shaft |33 and at the other end the sleeve |31, functions to normally maintain the meshing member |24 in the position shown, the spring cooperating to this result with the nut' |30 threaded to the end of the shaft |33 and abutting the end surface of the hub of meshing member |24. The latter is in turn secured for rotation with the shaft |33 by the provision of suitable splines |40 and is in turn adapted to rotate a barrel |42 rotatable with the planetary gearing assembly |43, a suitable driving connection being indicated at |44 `as taking the form of radially disposed splines or teeth extending from the member |24 into engagement with corresponding splines or teeth on the end bearing member |53 is also provided to facilitate.

rotation of the shaft |31.

The meshing member |23 in the embodiment now being described has associated therewith novel actuating means comprising preferably a meshing shaft |60 to the inner end of which is secured a crank arm |6| having a pin |62 engage- 4able with the circumferential groove |64 of the meshing member |23, the outer end of the 'pin being provided with asimilar crank arm |65, to which is attached a handle |66 and pin |61, constituting an anchoring post for one end of a torsion spring |68, the other end being suitably secured by suitable means 69 to the meshing shaft |60. A pin |10 formed on the crank arm |65 is adapted to engage a pawl |1| pivoted to the cas--l ing and having a tooth |12 normally urged by spring |13 into engagement with a notched re-v cess provided in shaft |60.

- Having thus enumerated the parts entering into theembodiment shown it will be evident that the operation thereof is as follows:

When it is desiredy to crank the engine by the indirect method, the shaft |28 is rotated to store the necessary energy in the inertia member, the

flywheel driving connection 'including an inner meshing jaw |24, splines |44, spider |42, planet gears |43, gears and |26. When the required amount of energy has thus been stored in the flywheel, the operator turns the crankA |65 and thereby causes pin |10 to engage the cam surface |14 of pawl |1|, to retract the tooth |12 from shaft |60, thereby permitting torsion spring |68 to whip the outer driving jaw |23 (which has meanwhile been rotating with the spider |42) into a suddenly executed meshing engagement withV the engine jaw. This snap action unwinds the spring |68, so that the engine, on starting under its own power, will operate to demesh the starter jaw |23, and at the same time return shaft in locking relation to tooth |12, whereupon spring |13 is effective to hold the parts in non-meshing position until the next starting operation.

When it is desired to crank the engine by direct action, the member |28 is caused to rotate and at the same time move axially forward, thereby compressing spring |35 and moving the inner meshing member |24 into engagement with the engine member |15. Thereupon the engine may be turned over by the directaction of the shaft |28, the connection for the ilywheel being broken by the withdrawal of member |24 and the splines |44 from engagement with the hub |43 of spider |42. Upon starting of the engine under its own power, the spring |35 is effective to return the member |24 to the position shown whereupon the latter will come to rest assuming cessation of thetion withoutdeparting from the spiritthereof, the extent of the permissible variations being ascertainable by reference to the appended claim.

What is claimed is: Y

In an engine starter of the type embodying a member movable into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a rod adapted to actuate said movable member, a torsion spring operatively connected to and coiled about said rod, means for maintaining said rod in non-actuating position comprising a notched member and a pawl engageable with said notched member, a

second spring for maintaining said pawl in engagement with said notched member, a manually operable means for releasing said pawl to cause rotation of said rod and corresponding forward movement' of said movable member by the I transfer thereto of the energy stored in said spring.

ROMEO M. NARDONE. 

